Automated Vent Fan Systems and Methods

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure is a vent that has a grate comprising a plurality of louvers and a base. The grate is coupled to the base on an exposed face. The vent further has at least one fan coupled to the base on an opposing face that is adapted for moving air delivered to the grate through the louvers.

BACKGROUND

A modern building, whether residential or commercial, has a heating,ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. An HVAC system isresponsible for cooling and heating the internal space of the buildingin response to internal temperature changes.

A typical HVAC system has a control subsystem that uses a thermostat tomaintain a specified temperature. In this regard, when a predeterminedtemperature, the thermostat automatically initiates the cooling system,and when the temperature detected by the thermostat falls below apredetermined temperature, the thermostat automatically initiates theheating system.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is a vent that has a grate comprising a pluralityof louvers and a base. The grate is coupled to the base on an exposedface. The vent further has at least one fan coupled to the base on anopposing face that is adapted for moving air delivered to the gratethrough the louvers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure can be better understood with reference to the followingdrawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scalerelative to each other, emphasis instead being placed upon clearlyillustrating the principles of the disclosure. Furthermore, likereference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the severalviews.

FIG. 1 is an isometric side view of an exemplary vent in accordance withan embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the exemplary vent depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary system incorporating theexemplary vent of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary vent 100 in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present disclosure. The exemplary vent 100 comprises a grate 101, abase 102, and two fan housings 103, 104.

The grate 101 comprises a plurality of louvers 108. The louvers 108 areattached to a frame 107. The louvers 108 allow air flow through the vent100 in a direction indicated by reference arrows 109.

The vent 100 further comprises a base 102. The frame 107 of the grate101 is coupled to an exposed face of the base 102. In addition, thehousings 103 and 104 are coupled to an opposing face of the base 102.

In operation, ducts deliver air (cold/warm) to the vent 100 via a seriesof ducts that connect the cooling/heating systems to an opening in afloor (not shown), wall (not shown), or ceiling (not shown) of a room(not shown) of a building (not shown). The vent 100 is inserted withinand to cover the opening. The air delivered blows through the louvers108 in the direction indicated by reference arrows 109 and cools and/orheats the room.

As will be described further herein with reference to FIG. 2, a vent 100in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure facilitatesmore expeditious and efficient delivery of air (cold or hot) to theroom. In this regard, the vent 100 moves the air from the air ductthrough the louvers 108, thereby decreasing the power that it takes tocool/heat a room.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the exemplary vent 100 as depicted in FIG. 1.In this regard, the vent 100 comprises the housings 103, 104. Within thehousings 103, 104 are fans 200, 201, respectively. Note that the fans200, 201 are exemplary. In other embodiments, the fans 200, 201 may haveany number or size of blades. Additionally, the pitch and shape of thefins of the fans 200, 201 shown are exemplary. Other pitches and shapesof the fins may be used in other embodiments.

Each fan 200, 201 comprises a motor (not shown) that activates anddeactivates the blades of the fans 200, 201. The motors are electricallyconnected to respective wires 203, 204.

FIG. 3 depicts an automated vent fan system 300 in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure. The system 300 comprises aheating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit 301. In addition,the system 300 comprises a thermostat 302 and electrical wires 203, 204.

The thermostat 302 is electrically coupled to the HVAC unit 301. In thisregard, when a preset maximum temperature is detected by the thermostat302, the thermostat 302 automatically transmits a signal to the HVACunit 301 that activates the cooling system of the HVAC unit 301.Further, when a preset minimum temperature is detected by the thermostat302, the thermostat 302 automatically transmits a signal to the HVACsystem 301 that activates the heating system of the HVAC unit 301.

Additionally, the thermostat 302 is electrically coupled to the fans200, 201 (FIG. 2) via the electrical connectors 203, 204 (FIG. 2),respectively. In accordance with the present disclosure, when thethermostat 302 activates the cooling or heating system of the HVACsystem 301, the thermostat 302 further activates the fans 200, 201 viathe electrical wires 203, 204, respectively.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vent, comprising: a grate comprising aplurality of louvers; a base, the grate coupled to the base on anexposed face; at least one fan coupled to the base on an opposing face,the fan adapted for moving air delivered to the grate through thelouvers.
 2. An automated vent fan system, comprising: a heating,ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit; a vent comprising atleast one fan coupled to a grate; a thermostat electrically coupled tothe HVAC unit to operate cooling and heating systems in response totemperature measurements, the thermostat further electrically coupled tothe vent and adapted to activate the fan when the heating or coolingsystem is activated.